Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 7175

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Dunarea de Jos of Galati, Galati, Romania
Interests: ocean energy; marine environment; ocean and coastal engineering; renewable energy; wind turbines; wave energy converters; coastal hazards; sea waves modeling; surf zone hydrodynamics; wave-current interactions
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite submissions to a second edition of the Special Issue entitled “Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future”, which is based on the great success of our previous Special Issue with the same title.

Climate change, most probably induced by anthropogenic emissions, represents a reality that has to be considered, and effective actions should be taken very quickly. From this perspective, a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions represents an issue of highly increasing importance.

As we all know, marine renewable energy (MRE) is abundant, and there are large spaces in both offshore and coastal environments that can be considered for harvesting different kinds of energy. The technologies currently associated with marine renewable energy extraction are very significant for achieving the expected targets in energy efficiency and environmental protection. Research into offshore wind has experienced outstanding success in the last decade, and advances are also expected for other MRE technologies. On the other hand, there are still important challenges related to the implementation of cost-effective technologies that could survive in the harsh marine environment.

From this perspective, the target of this Special Issue is to contribute to the renewable energy agenda through enhanced scientific and multidisciplinary work, aiming to improve knowledge and performance in harvesting ocean energy. We strongly encourage papers providing innovative technical developments, reviews, case studies, and analytics, as well as assessments and manuscripts targeting different disciplines that are relevant to harvesting ocean energy and to the associated advances and challenges. Expected climate change effects in ocean or coastal environments are also topics of high interest for this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Eugen Rusu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable energy
  • marine environment
  • climate change
  • sustainability
  • offshore wind floating
  • solar panels wave and tide energy
  • emerging technologies
  • environmental impact

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 602 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Fuel Supply for Very Small Island Transportation: The Potential of Hybrid Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen
by Evanthia Kostidi, Anna Maria Kotrikla, Artemis Maglara and Theodore Lilas
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030579 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 719
Abstract
The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates innovative approaches to renewable energy deployment, particularly in the marine environment, where abundant resources remain underutilized. This paper explores the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems and green hydrogen production to address the energy challenges faced [...] Read more.
The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates innovative approaches to renewable energy deployment, particularly in the marine environment, where abundant resources remain underutilized. This paper explores the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems and green hydrogen production to address the energy challenges faced by Very Small Islands (VSIs). These islands heavily rely on imported fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to global price fluctuations and contributing to economic instability and environmental degradation. Offshore floating platforms present a transformative opportunity by harnessing marine renewable resources, integrating wind, solar, and wave energy to maximize energy production while minimizing land use conflicts. Green hydrogen, produced through the electrolysis of seawater, powered by these renewable sources, offers a sustainable alternative for decarbonizing transportation, particularly in the maritime sector. The study aims to assess the feasibility of converting small conventional passenger vessels to hydrogen propulsion and evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental impacts of deploying offshore platforms for hydrogen production. By examining these aspects, this research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable energy solutions for island communities and provides actionable insights into implementing renewable hydrogen-based maritime transport. Full article
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31 pages, 7423 KiB  
Article
Selecting Appropriate Water–Energy Solutions for Desalination Projects in Coastal Areas
by Abanoub Shenouda, Mona A. Hagras, Eugen Rusu, Sayed Ismael, Hady H. Fayek and Ahmed Balah
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(11), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12111901 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
Selecting the appropriate desalination and renewable energy technologies is crucial for the success of desalination projects, as each technology offers distinct advantages and disadvantages tailored to specific project requirements. This research investigates the application of both the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic [...] Read more.
Selecting the appropriate desalination and renewable energy technologies is crucial for the success of desalination projects, as each technology offers distinct advantages and disadvantages tailored to specific project requirements. This research investigates the application of both the analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic techniques to develop four decision-making models: two for selecting the optimal desalination technology and two for selecting the optimal renewable energy technology in coastal communities. For desalination technology selection, the analytic hierarchy process model is structured into four hierarchical levels: the main goal, criteria, sub-criteria, and alternatives. The criteria level encompasses four groups, while the sub-criteria level comprises 26 factors. The alternatives considered are reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and multi-stage flash. In parallel, the analytic hierarchy process model for renewable energy technology selection is similarly structured, with four criteria groups and 24 sub-criteria factors. The alternatives evaluated include photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and wind energy. Additionally, fuzzy logic models are developed for both desalination and renewable energy technology selection. These models enhance the decision-making framework by incorporating the uncertainty and vagueness that are inherent in real-world scenarios. The integration of analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic methodologies provide a robust approach to identifying optimal technologies, thereby supporting sustainable development in Egypt’s water–energy nexus. The research outcomes highlight the effectiveness of integrating analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy logic in decision-making processes, offering decision-makers systematic and reliable approaches for selecting the most suitable technologies to achieve sustainability in water–energy nexus projects. The results of the research indicate that the best alternative for desalination was reverse osmosis, and for renewable energy was photovoltaics. Full article
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25 pages, 4405 KiB  
Article
Marine Renewable-Driven Green Hydrogen Production toward a Sustainable Solution and a Low-Carbon Future in Morocco
by Khadija Taroual, Mourad Nachtane, Marwane Rouway, Mostapha Tarfaoui, Abdessamad Faik, Viorel Mînzu, Karim Hilmi and Dennoun Saifaoui
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050774 - 5 May 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2344
Abstract
Oceanic energy sources, notably offshore wind and wave power, present a significant opportunity to generate green hydrogen through water electrolysis. This approach allows for offshore hydrogen production, which can be efficiently transported through existing pipelines and stored in various forms, offering a versatile [...] Read more.
Oceanic energy sources, notably offshore wind and wave power, present a significant opportunity to generate green hydrogen through water electrolysis. This approach allows for offshore hydrogen production, which can be efficiently transported through existing pipelines and stored in various forms, offering a versatile solution to tackle the intermittency of renewable energy sources and potentially revolutionize the entire electrical grid infrastructure. This research focusses on assessing the technical and economic feasibility of this method in six strategic coastal regions in Morocco: Laayoune, Agadir, Essaouira, Eljadida, Casablanca and Larache. Our proposed system integrates offshore wind turbines, oscillating water column wave energy converters, and PEM electrolyzers, to meet energy demands while aligning with global sustainability objectives. Significant electricity production estimates are observed across these regions, ranging from 14 MW to 20 MW. Additionally, encouraging annual estimates of hydrogen production, varying between 20 and 40 tonnes for specific locations, showcase the potential of this approach. The system’s performance demonstrates promising efficiency rates, ranging from 13% to 18%, while maintaining competitive production costs. These findings underscore the ability of oceanic energy-driven green hydrogen to diversify Morocco’s energy portfolio, bolster water resilience, and foster sustainable development. Ultimately, this research lays the groundwork for comprehensive energy policies and substantial infrastructure investments, positioning Morocco on a trajectory towards a decarbonized future powered by innovative and clean technologies. Full article
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Review

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36 pages, 9270 KiB  
Review
Marine Renewable Energy Resources in Peru: A Sustainable Blue Energy for Explore and Develop
by Carlos Cacciuttolo, Giovene Perez and Mivael Falcón
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13030501 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1117
Abstract
The Peruvian coast covers more than 3000 km along the Pacific Ocean, being one of the richest seas in terms of biodiversity, productivity, fishing, and renewable energy potential. Marine renewable energy (MRE) in both offshore and coastal environments of Peru is, currently, a [...] Read more.
The Peruvian coast covers more than 3000 km along the Pacific Ocean, being one of the richest seas in terms of biodiversity, productivity, fishing, and renewable energy potential. Marine renewable energy (MRE) in both offshore and coastal environments of Peru is, currently, a huge reserve of practically unused renewable energy, with inexhaustible potential. In this context, renewable energies from hydroelectric, biomass, wind, and solar sources have been applied in the country, but geothermal, waves, tidal currents, and tidal range sources are currently underdeveloped. This article presents the enormous source of sustainable blue energy for generating electrical energy that exists in Peru from waves and tidal resource potential. In addition, this article presents the main opportunities, gaps, and key issues for the implementation of marine renewable energy (MRE), with emphasis on: (i) showing the available potential in the northern, central, and southern Pacific Ocean territories of Peru, (ii) characterizing the marine energy best available technologies to implement, (iii) the environmental and socio-economic impacts of marine renewable energy, and (iv) discussion of challenges, opportunities, and future directions for developments in the marine energy sector. Finally, the article concludes that the greatest possibilities for exploiting the abundant marine renewable energy (MRE) resource in Peru are large spaces in both offshore and coastal environments on the Pacific Ocean that can be considered for harvesting energy. These issues will depend strongly on the implementation of regulations and policies for the strategic use for planning of marine resources, encouraging research and development (R&D) for creating sustainable innovations, incentives for project finance mechanisms, and developing specialized local human capital, considering the sustainability of livelihoods of coastal communities and ecosystems. Full article
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